Speedometer



J. ZUBATY Feb. 14, 1933.

SPEEDOMETER Filed Nov. 14,

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 JOSEPH ZBATY, F FLINT, IICHIG-AN, ASSIGNOB. TO .A C SPARK IQLG CEVANY, OF FLIN'S, MICHIGAN, .A CONIPANY OF MCHIGAN SPEEDOMETER Application filed November 14, i927.

My invention relates to the construction of speedometers and more particularly to the manner oi connecting the speedometer driving member to the speedometer head.

Cudinarily, a portion of the speedometer trame extends through the casing and the driving member is tasten-ed to this extension. This is unsatisfactory because as the speedometer casing is usually clamped rigidly against the instrument board, any tendency ot the driving member to move relative to the casing will place a strain upon the speedometer trame, this rendering it likely to be distorted, whereby the moving parts may be affected and the instrument become inaccurate. A further disadvantage is that a reasonable amount of clearance must necessarily be provided in the casing for the eX- ension to pass through, and it is very diflicult to seal this clearance to prevent the en* trance oust, which will in Jtime aect the operation oi"- the instrument.

rilhe object of my invention is to provide an improved manner of' securing the driving member to the instrument whereby no strain whatever is transmitted from the driving member to the instrument trame, and in which a positive seal is formed to absolutely prevent the admission of particles of dirt.

lllith the above and other objects in view, my invention will be more readily understood upon referring to the specification and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a speedometer, head, showing my im i method of attaching the driving men ber to the head.

Figure 2 is sectional view talren on the line 2-2 of `Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line B-S of Figure l.

The reference numeral l0 indicates a speedometer casing within which is held the speedometer frame l2. rllhis frame is riveted to a plate 14 which is clamped between the casing l0 and a cover l@ which is rolled in place. Journalled in the frame is a rotor shaft 18 which actuates the speed indicating and mileage recording mechanism supported y the frame.

Serial No. 233,193.

The casing l0 is provided with an outwardly extending portion 2O in which is held a bearing member 22 having a groove 2l formed in its outer surface. bearing member is assembled in the outwardly extending portion 2O the latter is rolled into the groove to hold the parts in fixed relation and to provide a tight joint between the two so that it will be impossible tor dirt to work into the inside ot the casino:

Journ lied in the bearing member is a tip 26 having securely fastened in it a iieirible shalt 28, the upper end 30 ot which is square and which lits into a squared opening in the rotor shaft 18. rlhe tip 26 is formed with :in enlarged portion 32 whichkat one end engages a shoulder '34 provided in the bearing member and at the other end engages a stamping 36 which is pressed into the bearing member to prevent axial movement ofthe tip. Vlhe outer end of the tip 38 is square and a square tubular member 4l() tits over it. This tubular member is securely fastened on the end of a lesible drive shaft t2 which is housed in a flexible tube 4. A collarl is fastened on the upper end of this flexible tube and this collar is drawn tightly into engagement with the bearing member by a nut e8 ywhich engages a flange 50 formed on the collar.

The object of constructing the bearing member independent from the trame is to prevent the transmission oi strains Yfrom the flexible tube to the trame. and consequent distortion of the latter. When the flexible tube 1s being installed or whenever there is any tendency of the body to weave, the tleXif ble tube is apt to be bent. it the flexible tubing is directly connected to the instrument frame, this movement will be communicated to the latter. ln my construction, however, the only connection between the flexible tubing and the frame is the flexible shaft and of course no strains can be transmitted through it.

lt will be readily seen that l have not only provided a speedometer construction in whichthe frame and the delicate mechanism supported on it are protected from injury by angular movement of the flexible driving After the member, but also a construction in which it is impossible for dirt to get into the inside of the casing and affect the accuracy of the instrument or shorten its life.

5 It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing that the construction and operation Will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changes in size, shape, and proportion and details of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l. An indicating instrument comprising,

in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism, a frame adapted to support all of said indicating mechanism, said frame being secured in said casing, a driving member, a bearing member separate from said frame se- -0 cured in said casing, said driving member being supported in said bearing member, and a flexible driving element secured in drivingengagement with said driving member and said indicating mechanism.

2. An indicating instrument comprising, in combination, a casing, a frame held in said casing, indicating mechanism carried by said frame, a bearing member separate from said frame and secured in said casing, a driving O0 member secured to said bearing member, and

a flexible shaft journalled at its upper end in said frame and at its lower end in said bearing member and connecting said driving member with said indicating mechanism.

3. An indicating instrumentcomprising, in combination, a casing, a frame including indicating mechanism held in said casing, a bearing member separate from said frame secured in said casing, iexible driving means 4G connected at its upper end to said indicating mechanism and having its lower end journalled in said bearing member, a driving member coupled with the lower end of said flexible driving means, and a housing for said driving member secured to said bearing member.

4r. An indicating instrument comprising, in combination, a casing, indicating mechanism housed Within the casing, a frame adapted to support all of said indicating mechanism,

said frame being secured to said casing, a

bearing member separate from said frame secured in said casing, a driving member, and

a flexible member journalled in said bearing member and adapted to have one end connected to said driving member and the other end connected to said indicating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH ZUBATY. 

